On September.11th.2001, the US suffered what may be the worst terrorist attack in world history. Hijacked commercial airplanes were crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon killing nearly 3,00 people. Since then, the situation has escalated into what many, especially our government refer to as war.

Now, one year later, the nation and the world are mourning their losses of family members, friends, and sense of security. Still others of us who long for the world to be as it was before that fateful date try to balance our patriotism and sceptical natures. We are those who mourn the loss of our freedom and hold out hope for a world without war. Too often, ours are the voices that are not heard.

In an attempt to bring context, understanding, and thought to the events of September 11th and subsequent and potential actions by our government, we at FrictionMagazine.com bring you this small cadre of articles and insights from our own contributors and those from other independent sources.

FrictionMagazine September.11th Coverage
Columns:

England, We Need Your Help by Lawrence Hagerty
The American public may be at a strange crossroads where they are looking to the international community to decide their position on Bush's war and to Michael Moore to voice their indignation and give them inspiration.

Justice or Revenge: The SLA and War on Terrorism by Ron Jacobs
The government is gaining momentum for their war on terror both at home and abroad. A recent conviction for a crime committed in the heat of the 1960s proves a point in case for activists to be wary of the new tide proclaiming activists as terrorists.

Introducing Once Again the Threat of Nuclear Annihilation by D.M. Yankowski
The media and government have helped to paint a picture of a bloodless war. In fact, the war against Afghanistan is anything but. The tallies of dead civilians are in the thousands simply from "traditional" methods of the US Armed Forces. Suppose however the US, and the world for that fact, look to something less bloody, say, nuclear warfare.

The Iffy-Psychology of Suicide Bombers by D.M. Yankowski
The holidays make many wish for things they cannot have, leading some to commit suicide with the weight of it all. Rather, that is what we are told to think. In reality, suicide is no more prevalent during the winter months than it is at any other time of the year. So if the holidays cannot serve as a reason for suicide, what then can? Our author speculates that we should be wary of any definitive psychological analysis ... especially in times of suicide terrorists.

Credit Cards in Hand, We Will Prevail by Melissa Hostetler
Shopping may provide comfort during the stressful moments we have felt as citizens of a nation under attack and at war, but what are the real costs of consumers flocking to the stores on the busiest shopping day of the year? While retailers see "Black Friday" as a godsend, Bush looks to the market for consent for the war in Afghanistan. But as politicians have been telling us for decades, the market is where the democratic process happens.

New World Flight by Dave Demerjian
Flying in the new world highlights the best and worst qualities of our air traffic system, and perhaps the people who use it as well.

Addressing the Sources of Middle Eastern Violence Against the US
by Steve NivaWith the recent attacks on American soil it is difficult to get beyond the horror and shock of what has just happened and engage in serious reflection on the sources of violence against the US. This is understandable, given the almost unbelievable nature of this attack. Yet it is more necessary than ever if one is to find ways to limit such attacks in the future and develop long terms policies against further violence.

From Below 14th by Laura RorhmanSince my address is below 14th, and this is the area that is officially closed off, I will tell you all what this is like from my perspective. It's eerie, it's lonely, it's scary, it's smoky and there isn't much respite. My face hurts from emotional stress.

Related Articles:US, Israeli, Arab, Elites Ignite Strife to Control the People by John SpritzlerThe media has led us to believe that the conflict in the Middle East is occurring simply because Jews and Arabs hate each other and desire the same land. In fact, this conflict serves the broader purpose of Jewish, Arab and US elites in maintaining control of the ever restless working people.Howard Zinn on History a speech by Howard ZinnSpeaking from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, in April 2001, Howard Zinn delivers a speech about the importance of history. He maintains that the world of culture and history is dominated and therefore translated by those who control the textbooks, the educational system, and the mass media. When a "free market of ideas" is controlled by corporations, history can never be objective.

Silent Genocideby Jeff Lindemyer
Though the US involvement in Desert Storm is in the past, their hand in Iraqi affairs is far from over. Since the US and UN war against Saddam Hussein, sanctions that have forced the Iraqi people into pillage, hunger, and illness despite overwhelming evidence these sanction have not and will never meet their stated goals.

Changes Wrought by 9/11: Not What You Expected from Alternet.org
What were you afraid of on Sept. 11? What frightens you today, one year later? Chances are, the two answers are quite different. Despite the efforts of Ashcroft and the Bush Administration to keep the public at a fever pitch of paranoia, most of us are afraid of threats that are far more real than lurking terrorists, "dirty" bombs or anthrax. We are afraid of corrupt corporate executives, afraid of what a crumbling economy and a crashing stock market will mean to our jobs and our retirement savings. Increasingly, we are afraid of our own government. One year after 9/11, we are finally learning to distinguish real menaces from manufactured hysteria.

The Highlight Reel from Freezerbox.com
In covering the first anniversary of September 11, network and cable news organizations are preparing a hybrid of P.T. Barnum and Oprah. This is the "quantity equals quality" approach, enormous spectacle performed under the premise that emotional healing is best done at excruciating length while observed by tens of millions.

Mainstream Media on 9/11 Foreknowledge: The Government Knew Airplane Attacks Were Going to Occur in US from Disinfo.com
It's come to my attention that some people out there still don't realize the government knew about the 9/11 attacks in advance. Instead, they buy the desperate government spin that there were scattered pieces of the puzzle that could've alerted authorities, but no one in power "connected the dots," to use the excuse-makers' favorite phrase. The actions of the authorities, though, tell a completely different story.

Fighting Words: The War Over Language from PopPolitics.com
Since many of us have not experienced the sights and sounds of war firsthand, we think about war rather thoughtlessly. Indeed, in our dearth of wartime experience, we have learned to deploy the images of war casually. The words of war were once the moral and emotional defense of the nation, corresponding with the real memories and motivations of an embattled citizenry. As war became less messy and more distant, the language of war invaded the common lexicon of America. Though you may have never noticed it, the extra-ordinary metaphor of war has infiltrated the everyday.

March.12th.2002

Return of the Iron Triangle: The New Military Buildup from Dollars & SenseThe Clinton administrationoversaw a dramatic decline in military spending over the course of the 1990s. It now looks, however, like US military doctrine will follow many of the recommendations of pro-military spending politicians and corporations.

Six Months Later, the Basic Tool is Language from Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
Cameras have recorded countless defining moments. And six months after Sept. 11, some nightmarish televised glimpses of that day's horrors still resonate deeply. Visual images are powerful. Yet there's no substitute for words that sum up what might otherwise seem too ambiguous, upsetting or baffling. Words attach meaning to events.

January.6th.2002

Suing Bin Laden from MotherJones.com
Winning civil suits against Osama bin Laden should be easy for the families of Sept. 11 victims. Getting paid is another story.

Bush's Sickening Superbowl Propaganda from Alternet.org
During America's most jingoistic sporting event, Bush spent $3.2 million to convince us that drug use = terrorism. It would be laughable nonsense if it wasn't so horribly wrong.

January.3rd.2002

Inviting Future Terrorism from Alternet.org
Reports from Afghanistan indicate that rising civilian deaths there and US policy stubbornness may be encouraging further terrorist attacks.

Homeland Security, Homeland Profits from Corpwatch.org
Government spy agencies seek new ways to monitor the Internet. Civil libertarians worry about privacy while software companies stand to make billions.

Central Asia Will Be Right Back from Freezerbox.com
During the last weeks of the World Trade Centers' existence, the third edition of Ashmed Rashid's book Taliban quietly appeared in bookstores. Although the book was well received when first published in 2000, not even the author -- who has long implored the world to pay closer attention to the region -- could have imagined its timeliness.

Medical Aftershocks from MotherJones.comWill the long-term effects of working at the World Trade Center disaster site put rescue workers and volunteers at risk -- and is enough being done to monitor their health?

November.26th.2001

Uzbekistan as an Ally from Consortiumnews.com
The post-Sept. 11 world indeed has seen many changes, but the historic tendency to build alliances of convenience, rather than principle, is one reality that hasnt changed. It's only been reinforced. A case in point is Uzbekistan, one of Washington's new best allies.

Life During Wartime from Freezerbox.com
Four excellent essays on the state of terrorism, taxes, the airlines, and energy. Thought-provoking, level-headed, and most informative.

How Mass Media Fails Democracy from LiP Magazine
Interview with media critic and political economist Robert McChesney about gaps in the coverage of the events and their aftermath, the news media's impact on democratic decision making in America, and US citizens' incomplete understanding of the role their country plays in the global economy.

Bush Took FBI Agents Off bin Laden's Trail from The Times of India
FBI and military intelligence officials in Washington report they were prevented for political reasons from carrying out full investigations into members of the Bin Laden family in the US prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11.

November.7th.2001

Talking Jihad from The Village Voice
Three religious views of the war in Pakistan. Muslims, Shiites, and Catholics weigh in with the interpretations, fears, and motivations.

The High Politics of Hydrocarbons from Red Pepper
The US claims that its military strikes in Afghanistan are inspired by the most virtuous of motivations. But a foothold in Afghanistan will also help the US achieve its long-term economic goal of securing access to the oil and gas fields of central Asia.

Terrible Images of a "Just" War from CounterPunch
What do you say to a stranger who tells you he has just lost every member of his immediate family? All you can decently do is ask questions.

Corporate Greed in Tragedy from Alternet.org
With corporations using the September 11th tragedy not only to boost sales but to lobby Congress for bailouts, tax refunds and the like it's no wonder people are pissed. Join in on Public Campaign's effort to halt the outrageous legislation being passed in Congress.

October.26th.2001

Squelching the News in Democracy's Name from MotherJones.comThe Bush administration's efforts to control the news -- with the broadcast media's willing collaboration -- may be more dangerous to American democracy than any terrorist.

Unintended Consequences from Alternet.orgIf the 50-year history of US policy in southwestern Asia teaches us anything, it is that aggressive military actions lead to destabilization of countries and the amplification of militant Islamic sentiment around the world. A must-read analysis.

Patriorism as Pathology from Lip MagazineThe failure to recognize the inconsistency of condemning terrorism while celebrating one of its most dedicated practitioners is predictable, and explains much about why others the world over view the US as a bastion of hypocrisy.

Say What You Want, But This War is Illegal from Commondreams.orgA well-kept secret about the attack on Afghanistan is that it is clearly illegal. It violates international law and the express words of the United Nations Charter.

US Aims to Widen Conflict from ScottlandOnSunday.com
American military strategists are planning to widen the war against terror to other Arab nations including Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Private Ryan, Amnesiac from FreezerboxTo some, the war against terrorism is a war against evil, plain and simple -- just like WWII was a war against Hitler and fascism and concentrations camps. The good war. But a look back taints the picture of a war fought for ideal means. Begging the question, can there be a good war?

October.8th.2001

After the Bombing from Alternet.orgNow that we've begun bombing Afghanistan to topple the Taliban, the unavoidable question is: How will we leave a country already destroyed and abandoned?

Relief Efforts Miss the Undocumented from the Pacific News ServiceIt was not just Lower Manhattan's executives and lawyers, or even union janitors and low-wage shopkeepers, who were affected by the recent disaster. An unknown number of sub-minimum wage immigrants, most of them undocumented and many from Mexico, either lost their jobs or their lives. Despite the unprecedented disaster relief and international attention that followed the event most still struggle to put their lives back together.

We Need an Independent Broadcasting Service from Tompaine.comAs the US prepares to wage war against terrorism, the American public has never been more in need of alternative views, independent analysis, and an open forum for public discussion.

September.28th.2001

The Terrible Trade-Off in Foreign Policy from Foreign Policy In Focus
The US used to judge countries by whether or not they supported Washington in its anti-Soviet crusade. Now it appears that foreign governments will be rewarded or punished by whether or not they become part of the US-led war against terrorism.

The Triumph of Terrorism from The Atlantic MonthlyA collection of articles from the past 15 years gives insight into the terrorist mind -- and how the US may have both encouraged and inflamed terrorist groups around the world.

Corporate Opportunists from Alternet.org
"Corporate interests and their proxies are looking to exploit the September 11 tragedy to advance a self-serving agenda that has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with corporate profits and dangerous ideologies."

September.24th.2001

Alone on the Hill from Mother JonesBarbara Lee, a Californian Democratic Representative, was the lone dissenting vote to a resolution passed in the House on September 15, authorizing President Bush to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against anyone associated with the terrorist attacks. Mother Jones talks to her about why she was the only dissenter.

We Cannot Win a War on Terrorism from TomPaine.com
"That is not defeatism. Terrorism is a methodology, and a methodology cannot be vanquished. Specific terrorists can be targeted and perhaps destroyed. But it is a mistake to declare a set of means the enemy. By doing so, President Bush and his comrades have given us a war with no natural finale, with no obvious terms of victory."

September.18th.2001

The End of Isolation from In These TimesAnalogies of Tuesday's events to the bombing of Pearl Harbor could never be so wrong. With powerful domestic forces urging isolation, the US was trying to stay out of war in 1941. Today, the US government is the extreme opposite of isolationist, having it's hands in nearly every country and "global" situation. Cultural isolation runs rampant in Americans as they take in the horrible events of the day with no context.

How 9.11 Will Change Cyberspace from Alternet.org
"After last week's terrorist attacks, government and FBI officials immediately began chipping away at our digital privacy in the name of national security. "Encryption" was blamed for our lack of intelligence about the attack, and Sen. Judd Gregg subsequently called for a prohibition on encryption products that don't provide back doors for government surveillance. As if terrorists are going to use government-compliant forms of encryption software anyway."

Arab-American Leader Speaks on the Terror from Freespeech.org
Ali Abunimah, director of the Arab-Action-Network based in Chicago, was interviewed by David Barsamian of Alternative Radio on September 14th. He talks of the catastrophic attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center and subsequent attacks on Muslims in the US. But he also speaks of the support coming from so many Americans, and the folly of using the attacks to open wider conflict in the Middle East.

September.14th.2001

Life Liberty and the Obligation to Preserve Both from The American Prospect"The tightrope a nation walks in wartime (or whatever we call this terrifying new condition in which we find ourselves) is finding the right balance between two of the inalienable rights laid out in the Declaration of Independence: life and liberty. Nothing quite so erodes liberty as the extreme measures governments arrogate for themselves under the banner of protecting life. But if the nation cannot defend both life and liberty, we disgrace our heritage and imperil our future."

Not Vengeance, but Compassion from TomPaine.comHoward Zinn on why military actions against terrorism have never worked and why they will certainly not work this time.

Essays from the Left from Z MagazineNoam Chomsky and Michael Moore are only a few who give their view of Tuesday's events.

September.13th.2001

A Sad Day for the Anti-Globalization Movement from The New RepublicTake a look at the targets: the military, the government, and Wall Street. It is a horrible setback for the movement that we can even think of their involvement in this. A TNR editor comments on how the movement is failing to keep track of its enemies.

Understanding Osama from Alternet.orgA look into why Osama bin Laden and his followers hate the US so violently.

A Time for Peace and a Time to Stop Destroying Arms Control Treaties from TomPaine.com
"Will this persuade our leaders that this is no time to tear up arms control treaties and let nuclear weapons proliferate as never before? That this is not a time to reduce United States diplomatic outreach to the rest of the world and increase military might? To try to take steps that would reduce the hopeless misery that fuels insane responses from people throughout the world, rather than supporting virtually any oppressive regime that guarantees profits to American businesses? Or will this tragedy just plunge us deeper into fear, violence, and the senseless pursuit of invulnerability through military force?"

A Media Day in Infamy from Alternet.orgWhile the media can be commended on not inflating or even reporting early on the number of casualties, their speculating on who was responsible cannot be commended. Lest we forget the last act of terrorism in this country was enacted by one of our own.

Osama bin Laden Denounces Attacks while Other Rejoice in the Streets from Salon.comIn the West Bank and in Gaza, thousands of Palestinians applauded the devastating blows, cheering openly in the streets and distributing celebratory candy to passersby. Some shouted that they hoped Tel Aviv would be next or vowed to complete what they believe Osama bin Laden has started.